When we meet people for the first time, we often make decisions about them based entirely on how they look.

And, of course it’s something that works both ways, for we too are being judged on our appearance.

When we look good, we feel good, which in turn leads to a more confident and self-assured manner. People then pick up on this confidence and respond positively towards us,

Undoubtedly, it's what's inside that's important, but sometimes

we can send out the wrong signals simply by wearing inappropriate clothing or not spending enough time thinking about how others see us.

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For example, people often make the mistake of trying to look like someone else they’ve seen in a magazine, but this is usually a disaster as we all have our own characteristics.

Stand in front of a fulllength mirror and be honest with yourself about what you see.

There is no need to dwell on your faults—we all have good points and bad points—but think instead about the best way to emphasize the good ones.

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When selecting your clothes each day, think about who you’re likely to meet, where you’re going to be spending most of your time and what tasks you are likely to perform. Clearly,

some outfits will be more appropriate to different sorts of activity

and this will dictate your choice to an extent. However, there’s no need to abandon your individual taste completely. After all,

if you dress to please somebody else’s idea of what looks good, you may end up feeling uncomfortable and not quite yourself.

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But to know your own mind, you have to get to know yourself.

What do you truly feel good in? There are probably a few favourite items that you wear a lot—most people wear 20 per cent of their wardrobe 80 per cent of the time.

Look at these clothes and ask yourself what they have in common.

Are they neat and tidy, loose and flowing? Then look at the things hanging in your wardrobe that you don’t wear and ask yourself why.

Go through a few magazines and catalogues and mark the things that catch your eye. Is there a common theme?

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Some colors bring your natural colouring to life and others can give us a washed-out appearance. Try out new colours by all means,

but remember that dressing in bright colours when you really like subtle neutral tones,

or vice versa, will make you feel selfconscious and uncomfortable.

You know deep down where your own taste boundaries lie. And although it’s good to challenge those sometimes with new combinations or shades,

take care not to go too far all at once.

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So, you’ve chosen an outfit that matches your style,

your personality, your shape and your colouring. But does it fit? If something is too tight or too loose,

you won’t achieve the desired effect, and no matter what other qualities it has, it won’t improve your appearance or your confidence. Sometimes,

we buy things without thinking. Some people who dislike shopping grab the first thing they see,

or prefer to use mail-order or the Internet. In all cases, if it doesn’t fit perfectly, don’t buy it, because the finer details are just as important as the overall style.

Reappraising your image isn’t selfish because everyone who comes into contact with you will benefit. You’ll look better and you’ll feel a better person all round. And if in doubt, you only need to read Professor Albert Mehrabian’s book Silent Messages to remind yourself how important outward appearances are.

His research showed that the impact we make on each other depend 55 per cent on how we look and behave,

38 per cent on how we speak and only 7 per cent on what we actually say.

So, whatever stage you are at in your life, whatever role you play, isn’t it time you made the most of yourself?